Perseverance

Perseverance
We can all agree that running a marathon is a good analogy for the Christian life. The race God has set before us can sometimes feel like a long, uphill climb, where each step and mile becomes more difficult. It's important to remember that this is a marathon, not a sprint; it won't finish in just a few minutes. The Christian life is a continuous spiritual test of perseverance from the cradle to the grave. We are called to shed anything heavy that can slow us down while running well, often meaning we must let go of sin, which acts as heavy baggage weighing us down.
Friends, let’s be honest: it's easy to get discouraged and frustrated when the finish line seems far away and out of sight. As spiritual runners, we must keep our eyes focused on the road ahead. If we start to feel discouraged and look elsewhere, we slow down and doubt our ability to finish. Only by keeping our hearts and minds focused on Jesus can we remain determined. As believers, we are encouraged to “run with perseverance, fixing our eyes on Jesus.”   Whenever we feel discouraged or frustrated and we want to give up, it's crucial to fix our eyes on Jesus. We must keep our eyes on the prize! Jesus will give us all the strength we need to faithfully complete the race before us.
Onward and Upward+
Fr. Greg

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